Area attractions want you to dig deep

I paid a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth last weekend and maybe an hour or so after I got over the sticker shock, I suppose I did manage a slight crease of a smile.

Disneyland is still a great place to visit. The rides are a thrill, in their dark, fast and wet little way. The “cast members” are friendly and helpful. And it’s still one of the best places around for just leaning back watching people.

But leave it to me to go on Graduation Day, which seemed like it attracted every kid between here and Las Vegas. They combined that group with the regular Saturday visitors, so it made for a very big crowd and extremely long lines on a perfectly beautiful day.

My daughter and I weren’t organized enough to use FASTPASS on the rides we targeted, so we stood in a couple 90-minute lines. Now that may sound foolish to the regular Disneyland visitor, but to me it really wasn’t a bad thing.

Cooling our heels in the queue allowed us to catch up on some conversation and save our money. If we had gone the FASTPASS route, who knows what junk we would have bought while waiting for our designated ride times. I could have been tempted to shell out $30 for the Mickey ears with the brightly flashing lights. But I passed; I was too busy standing in line.

Of course, those lines also caused me to wonder if it all was really worth it. Was it a good idea to spend $87 a pop for a one-day, one-park, adult ticket; $81 for kids?

Disneyland is still the crème de la crème of theme parks ---- perfectly landscaped and devoted to detail. But if I wanted to treat a handful of grandchildren to a day at the park, it might seem easier and cheaper to climb the Matterhorn.

I checked around and Disneyland’s prices are in line with other theme parks and attractions in this area. Because it’s been around so long, maybe the late Walt Disney’s playground is setting the standard for everyone else.

Seaworld in San Diego charges $78 for adults and $70 for kids. There is a special $63 price now for all California residents.

Legoland in Carlsbad requires anywhere from $91 to $97 for adults and $10 less for kids.

For Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, prices are considerably less ($37 for adults, $27 for children), if you purchase tickets online. But merely to walk up to buy a ticket at the gate is $60 for adults and $37 for kids. And, according to its website, those prices will change once school is out for the summer.

At Universal Studios theme park in Los Angeles, expect to pay $80 for adults and $72 for a child’s one-day pass. You’ll need nearly $50 more to get front-of-the-line tickets.

And finally, one-day passes for the San Diego Zoo are $44 for adults and $34 for children.

Of course, most of these places offer discounts, so it takes a little planning. Check their websites before you go. After you throw in parking and food, the whole day can get very pricey.